On day after Midland shooting, Texas loosens gun laws

1of71Josh VillaseÃ±or raises his arms in prayer during a vigil at the University of Texas of the Permian Basin in Odessa, Texas on Sunday, Sept. 1, 2019. The vigil was for the victims of Saturday's mass shooting. Seth Aaron Ator, 36, of Odessa, is suspected of killing seven people an injuring 19 in a shooting spree on Saturday.Photo: Jerry Lara/Staff photographer

2of71Odessa and Midland police and sheriff's deputies surround the area behind Cinergy in Odessa where one shooter who stole a mail truck 08/31/19 was detained and killed. Tim Fischer/Reporter-TelegramPhoto: Tim Fischer/Midland Reporter-Telegram

3of71A city of Odessa police car, left, and a U.S. mail vehicle, right, which were involved in Saturday's shooting, are pictured outside the Cinergy entertainment center, Sunday, Sept. 1, 2019, in Odessa, Texas. The death toll in the West Texas shooting rampage increased Sunday as authorities investigated why a man stopped by state troopers for failing to signal a left turn opened fire on them and fled, shooting over a dozen people as he drove before being killed by officers outside a movie theater. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)Photo: Sue Ogrocki/Associated Press

4of71An Odessa police vehicle vehicle and U.S. postal van, which was stolen by a gunman, behind the Cinergy Odessa entertainment complex in Odessa, Texas, Sept. 1, 2019. A city spokesman said seven people had been killed, in addition to the gunman. At least 21 others were wounded, including three law enforcement officers. (Ivan Pierre Aguirre/The New York Times)Photo: IVAN PIERRE AGUIRRE/NYT

6of71Law enforcement officials process a scene involved in Saturday's shooting, Sunday, Sept. 1, 2019, in Odessa, Texas. The death toll in the West Texas shooting rampage increased Sunday as authorities investigated why a man stopped by state troopers for failing to signal a left turn opened fire on them and fled, shooting more than a dozen people as he drove before being killed by officers outside a movie theater. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)Photo: Sue Ogrocki/Associated Press

8of71Investigators search a road following a mass shooting in Odessa, Texas, Sept. 1, 2019. A city spokesman said seven people had been killed, in addition to the gunman. At least 21 others were wounded, including three law enforcement officers. (Ivan Pierre Aguirre/The New York Times)Photo: IVAN PIERRE AGUIRRE, NYT

9of71Law enforcement investigators conducted a search of a property in West Odessa, Texas, Sunday, Sept. 1, 2019. Seth Aaron Ator, 36, of Odessa, is suspected of killing seven people an injuring 19 in a shooting spree in Odessa on Saturday. Before the rampage, Ator was stop along IH-10 between Odessa and Midland by a Texas Department of Public Safety trooper for a traffic violation.Photo: Jerry Lara, Staff photographer

10of71Investigators search a field near an entertainment complex following a mass shooting in Odessa, Texas, Sept. 1, 2019. A city spokesman said seven people had been killed, in addition to the gunman. At least 21 others were wounded, including three law enforcement officers. (Ivan Pierre Aguirre/The New York Times)Photo: IVAN PIERRE AGUIRRE/NYT

11of71Veronica Alonzo, 29, talks about interactions with her neighbor, Seth Ator, 36, at their West Odessa, Texas neighborhood, Monday, Sept. 2, 2019. Ator lived in a aluminum shack, background, without electricity or running water in West Odessa. He is suspected in killing seven and injuring 22 people in a shooting rampage that started on IH-20 between Odessa and Midland, Texas, Saturday. Alonzo said that one time, Ator went to her trailer home with a rifle and complained about a trash issue. With Alonzo are her children from left, Fabian Garcia, 3, Danna Garcia, 4, and Alan Alonzo, 7.Photo: Jerry Lara/Staff photographer

12of71Law enforcement investigators conducted a search of a property in West Odessa, Texas, Sunday, Sept. 1, 2019. Seth Aaron Ator, 36, of Odessa, is suspected of killing seven people an injuring 19 in a shooting spree in Odessa on Saturday. Before the rampage, Ator was stop along IH-10 between Odessa and Midland by a Texas Department of Public Safety trooper for a traffic violation.Photo: Jerry Lara, Staff photographer

13of71Law enforcement vehicles are seen behind the U.S. and Texas flags hanging from tow trucks along IH-20 near the Odessa, Texas city limits, Sunday, Sept. 1, 2019. Seth Aaron Ator, 36, of Odessa, is suspected of killing seven people an injuring 19 in a shooting spree in Odessa on Saturday. Before the rampage, Ator was stop along IH-10 between Odessa and Midland by a Texas Department of Public Safety trooper for a traffic violation.Photo: Jerry Lara, Staff photographer

14of71Bullet holes in the passenger window of a truck belonging to a shooting victim in Odessa, Texas, Sept. 1, 2019. A city spokesman said seven people had been killed, in addition to the gunman. At least 21 others were wounded, including three law enforcement officers. (Ivan Pierre Aguirre/The New York Times)Photo: IVAN PIERRE AGUIRRE, NYT

15of71Investigators near an entertainment complex following a mass shooting in Odessa, Texas, Sept. 1, 2019. A city spokesman said seven people had been killed, in addition to the gunman. At least 21 others were wounded, including three law enforcement officers. (Ivan Pierre Aguirre/The New York Times)Photo: IVAN PIERRE AGUIRRE/NYT

16of71ODESSA, TEXAS - AUGUST 31: Police tape marks the scene outside a Twin Peaks restaurant after multiple people were shot on August 31, 2019 in Odessa, Texas. Officials say an unidentified suspect was shot and killed after killing 5 people and injuring 21 in Odessa and nearby Midland. (Photo by Cengiz Yar/Getty Images)Photo: Cengiz Yar/Getty Images

17of71This handout images obtained courtesy of Ernst Villanueva taken on August 31, 2019 show a car with a bullet hole on the windows after a gunman open fire in the I-20 highway in between Odessa and Midland, Texas. - At least one gunman in the US state of Texas has shot multiple victims and hijacked a mail truck, police said on Saturday. (Photo by HO / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO / ERNST VILLANUEVA" - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS ---HO/AFP/Getty ImagesPhoto: Ho, AFP/Getty Images

18of71MIDLAND, TEXAS - AUGUST 31: Police cars and tape block off a crime scene where a gunman was shot and killed at Cinergy Odessa movie theater on August 31, 2019 in Midland, Texas. Officials say the unidentified suspect killed 5 people and injured 21 in a mass shooting in Midland and nearby Odessa. (Photo by Cengiz Yar/Getty Images)Photo: Cengiz Yar/Getty Images

19of71An updated photo of Seth Aaron Ator, 36. Ator is accused of killing seven people and injuring 22 others in Saturday's mass shooting in Midland-Odessa, Texas. He was killed at a movie theater in Odessa the same day.Photo: Odessa Police Department

20of71Dr. Sudip Bose talks about the systems in place at Medical Center Health System to handle mass shootings during a press conference Saturday, Aug. 31, 2019 at the corner of 5th Street and Washington by Medical Center Health System. Jacy Lewis/Reporter-TelegramPhoto: Jacy Lewis/Reporter-Telegram

21of71Russell Tippin CEO and president of Medical Center Health System gave a press conference Saturday, Aug. 31, 2019 at the corner of 5th and Washington. Jacy Lewis/Reporter-TelegramPhoto: Jacy Lewis/Reporter-Telegram

22of71An Odessa police vehicle vehicle and U.S. postal van, which was stolen by a gunman, behind the Cinergy Odessa entertainment complex in Odessa, Texas, Sept. 1, 2019. A city spokesman said seven people had been killed, in addition to the gunman. At least 21 others were wounded, including three law enforcement officers. (Ivan Pierre Aguirre/The New York Times)Photo: IVAN PIERRE AGUIRRE/NYT

23of71Odessa and Midland police and sheriff's deputies surround the area behind Cinergy in Odessa where one shooter who stole a mail truck 08/31/19 was detained and killed. Tim Fischer/Reporter-TelegramPhoto: Tim Fischer/Midland Reporter-Telegram

26of71This handout images obtained courtesy of Ernst Villanueva taken on August 31, 2019 show a car with a bullet hole on the windows after a gunman open fire in the I-20 highway in between Odessa and Midland, Texas. - At least one gunman in the US state of Texas has shot multiple victims and hijacked a mail truck, police said on Saturday. (Photo by HO / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO / ERNST VILLANUEVA" - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS ---HO/AFP/Getty ImagesPhoto: Ho, AFP/Getty Images

27of71ODESSA, TX - SEPTEMBER 1: A damaged police vehicle and U.S. Postal Service van blocked off with tape nearby to where a gunman was shot and killed at Cinergy Odessa movie theater following a deadly shooting spree on September 1, 2019 in Odessa, Texas. Seven people had been killed, in addition to the gunman and at least 21 others were wounded, including three law enforcement officers after a gunman went on a rampage. The man who has not been identified fled from state troopers who had tried to pull him over. The gunman then hijacked a United States postal van and indiscriminately fired from a rifle at people before the authorities shot and killed him outside a movie theater in Odessa. (Photo by Cengiz Yar/Getty Images)Photo: Cengiz Yar/Getty Images

28of71Odessa and Midland police and sheriff's deputies surround the area behind Cinergy in Odessa where one shooter who stole a mail truck 08/31/19 was detained and killed. Tim Fischer/Reporter-TelegramPhoto: Tim Fischer/Midland Reporter-Telegram

29of71Odessa and Midland police and sheriff's deputies surround the area behind Cinergy in Odessa where one shooter who stole a mail truck 08/31/19 was detained and killed. Tim Fischer/Reporter-TelegramPhoto: Tim Fischer/Midland Reporter-Telegram

31of71ODESSA, TX - SEPTEMBER 1: Texas Gov. Greg Abbott holds a press conference with local and federal law enforcement at the University of Texas of the Permian Basin (UTPB) following a deadly shooting spree on September 1, 2019 in Odessa, Texas. Seven people had been killed, in addition to the gunman and at least 21 others were wounded, including three law enforcement officers after a gunman went on a rampage. The man who has not been identified fled from state troopers who had tried to pull him over. The gunman then hijacked a United States postal van and indiscriminately fired from a rifle at people before the authorities shot and killed him outside a movie theater in Odessa. (Photo by Cengiz Yar/Getty Images)Photo: Cengiz Yar/Getty Images

33of71ODESSA, TX - SEPTEMBER 1: Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (C) holds a press conference with local and federal law enforcement at the University of Texas of the Permian Basin (UTPB) following a deadly shooting spree on September 1, 2019 in Odessa, Texas. Seven people had been killed, in addition to the gunman and at least 21 others were wounded, including three law enforcement officers after a gunman went on a rampage. The man who has not been identified fled from state troopers who had tried to pull him over. The gunman then hijacked a United States postal van and indiscriminately fired from a rifle at people before the authorities shot and killed him outside a movie theater in Odessa. (Photo by Cengiz Yar/Getty Images)Photo: Cengiz Yar/Getty Images

34of71Odessa Police Chief Michael Gerke announces that he does not want to speak the name of the shooter from Saturday's shooting during a news conference Sunday, Sept. 1, 2019, in Odessa, Texas. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)Photo: Sue Ogrocki/Associated Press

36of71In this image made from video provided by Dustin Fawcett, police officers guard on a street in Odessa, Texas, Saturday, Aug. 31, 2019. Police said there are "multiple gunshot victims" in West Texas after reports of two suspects opening fire on Saturday in the area of Midland and Odessa. (Dustin Fawcett via AP)Photo: Dustin Fawcett, Associated Press

37of71Music City Mall patrons are seen outside the mall after being evacuated by Odessa police following a reports of an active shooter in the area. Five people are dead and 21 others injured after a traffic stop turned into a drive-by shooting spree that terrorized the Odessa.Photo: Jacy Lewis/Reporter-Telegram

38of71Russell Tippin CEO and president of Medical Center Health System gave a press conference Saturday, Aug. 31, 2019 at the corner of 5th and Washington. Jacy Lewis/Reporter-TelegramPhoto: Jacy Lewis/Reporter-Telegram

39of71Matt Collins, chief operating officer, talks about the systems in place at Medical Center Health System to handle mass shootings during a press conference Saturday, Aug. 31, 2019 at the corner of 5th Street and Washington by Medical Center Health System. Jacy Lewis/Reporter-TelegramPhoto: Jacy Lewis/Reporter-Telegram

40of71Dr. Sudip Bose talks about the systems in place at Medical Center Health System to handle mass shootings during a press conference Saturday, Aug. 31, 2019 at the corner of 5th Street and Washington by Medical Center Health System. Jacy Lewis/Reporter-TelegramPhoto: Jacy Lewis/Reporter-Telegram

43of71An added room is seen at a shack owned by Seth Ator, 36, in West Odessa, Texas, Monday, Sept. 2, 2019. Neighbors say Ator would used the upstairs windows to shoot animals in his property. He is suspected in killing seven and injuring 22 people in a shooting rampage that started on IH-20 between Odessa and Midland, Texas, Saturday.Photo: Jerry Lara/Staff photographer

44of71An added room is seen at a shack owned by Seth Ator, 36, in West Odessa, Texas, Monday, Sept. 2, 2019. Neighbors say Ator would used the upstairs windows to shoot animals in his property. He is suspected in killing seven and injuring 22 people in a shooting rampage that started on IH-20 between Odessa and Midland, Texas, Saturday.Photo: Jerry Lara/Staff photographer

54of71Odessa and federal authorities on Monday provide more details into a weekend shooting rampage that left eight dead.Photo: Tim Fischer

55of71Investigators with the Odessa Poloce Department and ATF blocked off the intersection of Faudree Street and TX 191 at about 11:30 a.m. Monday in relation to Saturday’s mass shooting.Photo: Monique Batson

56of71White crosses, made by Greg Zanis from Illinois, were placed on Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2019, at 2nd St. and Sam Houston.Photo: Jacy Lewis/Reporter-Telegram

57of71Shana Glasgow places her hand on the white crosses, made by Greg Zanis from Illinois, that were placed on Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2019, at 2nd St. and Sam Houston.Photo: Jacy Lewis/Reporter-Telegram

58of71White crosses, made by Greg Zanis from Illinois, were placed on Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2019, at 2nd St. and Sam Houston.Photo: Jacy Lewis/Reporter-Telegram

59of71Kimberly Juarez and Lizeth Aguilar mourn at white crosses, made by Greg Zanis from Illinois, that were placed on Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2019, at 2nd St. and Sam Houston.Photo: Jacy Lewis/Reporter-Telegram

65of71Leilah Hernandez's cross, made by Greg Zanis from Illinois, were placed on Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2019, at 2nd St. and Sam Houston.Photo: Jacy Lewis/Reporter-Telegram

66of71Arturo Carrasco shows a tattoo he got from Bloodline Ink Tattoo in memory of the Odessa shooting victims on Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2019, at 2nd St. and Sam Houston.Photo: Jacy Lewis/Reporter-Telegram

67of71Arturo Carrasco writes on Mary Granados' white cross, made by Greg Zanis from Illinois, that were placed on Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2019, at 2nd St. and Sam Houston.Photo: Jacy Lewis/Reporter-Telegram

68of71Kimberly Juarez places a necklace on a white cross with Leilah Hernandez's name written on it, made by Greg Zanis from Illinois, were placed on Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2019, at 2nd St. and Sam Houston.Photo: Jacy Lewis/Reporter-Telegram

69of71Shana Glasgow places her hand on Mary Granados' white cross, made by Greg Zanis from Illinois, that were placed on Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2019, at 2nd St. and Sam Houston.Photo: Jacy Lewis/Reporter-Telegram

70of71Zailynn Rangel, 3, places flowers on the white crosses with help from Kimberly Quintana and Karla Flotte on Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2019, at 2nd St. and Sam Houston.Photo: Jacy Lewis/Reporter-Telegram

71of71Odessa High School students stop 09/03/19 at a memorial set up at the front doors to Odessa High School for OHS sophomore Leilah Hernandez, 15, killed Saturday in the mass shooting in Odessa. Tim Fischer/Reporter-TelegramPhoto: Tim Fischer/Midland Reporter-Telegram

Eight new gun laws loosening weapons restrictions went into effect in Texas on Sunday, nine hours after a mass shooting that at least seven dead and 22 injured in Odessa and Midland.

Saturday's massacre, along with the deadly rampage earlier in August that left dozens dead and injured in El Paso, prompted renewed calls for Texas politicians to introduce gun control policies.

At a news conference Sunday in Odessa, Abbott said legislators have been seeking new solutions for gun violence in recent years.

"What we have been doing especially after El Paso has been meeting daily, in part with members of the legislature, in part with victims, in part with members of the community, and our federal counterparts," the governor said.

One of those new laws in effect Sunday is a HB 1387, bill that lifted a cap on how many armed school marshals a school can have. The law will "keep schools safer," Abbott said.

The gunman in Saturday's shooting used an assault rifle-style weapon, officials said. The governor quickly noted that not all mass shooters used AR-style weapons and said legislators would be looking at "every issue" for new solutions.

"As Governor Abbott and other elected officials send their thoughts and prayers and point fingers at the gunmen, they should be looking in the mirror as the laws he helped craft contribute to guns coming in and out of our communities," Amber Goodwin, an activist who founded the anti-gun violence organization Community Justice Action Fund, said in a statement Sunday.

Other representatives and senators introduced bills in the state legislature earlier this year slackening restrictions on where guns are prohibited and how people store them.

HB 1143, authored by Rep. Cole Hefner, R-Mt. Pleasant, dictates that schools may not regulate how its employees store guns or ammunition in their vehicles as long as they have a license to carry.

SB 535 struck down a part of the Texas Penal Code banning firearms from places of worship. Individual churches, temples and mosques are still able to set their own restrictions on if weapons are allowed.

The bill, introduced by Sen. Donna Campbell, R-San Antonio, also reduces fines for people with carry licenses who "unknowingly" carry in prohibited areas, according to her office.

HB 1791, introduced by Rep. Matt Krause, R-Fort Worth, stipulates that local government entities are not allowed to have more restrictive carry laws than the state does on properties owned or leased by the government.

People with a license to carry could be prosecuted for unknowingly bringing their firearm into a prohibited place, but HB 121 now forces business owners to give verbal notice if the carrier misses a prohibition sign.

It is also no longer an offense to do so if the individual carrying a gun leaves the premises immediately after being notified, according to the bill authored by Rep. Valerie Swanson, R-Spring.

Landlords and property owners may no longer ban renters and their guests from having firearms, according to HB 302 authored by Rep. Dennis Paul, R-Houston.

In HB 1177, introduced by Rep. Dade Phelan, R-Beaumont, unlicensed people can carry guns for up to a week in the wake of a natural disaster.

The National Rifle Association sponsored the bill, and a spokeswoman for the organization's Teas chapter said it would help people protect their possessions from looting in the wake of major events like hurricanes.

HB 2363, introduced by R. Cody Harris, R-Palestine, allows some foster parents to store firearms and ammunition in the same locked place if the firearms have a trigger-locking device.

The new laws were signed by Abbott in May and June.

Texas's loose gun laws correlate with spikes in homicide and suicide rates, according to a report published in August by the Giffords Law Center.

The think tank recommended universal background checks, disarming people convicted of violent crimes and supplying resources to local law enforcement to stem the flow of guns sold illegally in Texas.

But some politicians have publicly said they would refuse calls for stronger gun control laws. Rep. Matt Schaefer, R-Tyler, posted several tweets Saturday night vowing to vote against protections like bans on assault rifles in the House.

"I am NOT going to use the evil acts of a handful of people to diminish the God-given rights of my fellow Texans," Schaefer tweeted.

"And while every other Republican elected leader has the good sense NOT to say this right now, it's exactly the position of every, single elected Republican leader in Texas. It's why nothing changes," tweeted Rep. Gina Hinojosa, D-Austin.

Other politicians are calling for a special session of the state legislature, which wrapped up at the end of May.

Gwendolyn Wu writes the Houston How To column and about the business of healthcare for the Houston Chronicle through the Hearst Journalism Fellowship. Prior to moving to Texas, she was a metro reporter for the San Francisco Chronicle, where she was part of the award-winning breaking news team that covered the deadly Camp Fire.

Gwendolyn hails from the San Fernando Valley in Los Angeles and graduated from the University of California, Santa Barbara with degrees in history and sociology. She’s an active member of the Asian American Journalists Association. In her spare time, she likes testing new recipes, exploring used bookstores and eating her way through new cities.